Gender Violence among Refugee Women - Essay Example

RESEARCH PROPOSAL ON PREVALENCE, CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCES OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AGAINST FEMALE REFUGEES IN BALLARAT. Student’s Name Course Professor’s Name University City (State) Date 1.0 Background A refugee is a person who is forced to seek asylum in different location outside his country of nationality due to persecution, external aggression, foreign domination or activities that disturb public order. Australia is one of the world’s major immigration nations and since 1945; the country has accommodated over 7.5 million refugees. Notably, the number of refugees and immigrants seeking refuge in the country is set to rise owing to the political instability facing many Asian countries such as Syria. The Arab spring that started in Tunisia spread in neighboring states like Libya and Egypt causing many people to flee their countries to safety. For example, in 2016, the Australian government promised to take in 12,000 more refugees that were fleeing conflict in Syria and Iraq (McNeill 2016). It is important to note that a significant number of refugees are made up of women who find themselves in refugee camps scattered across Australia including Ballarat. Moreover, Ballarat community and its leaders have been part of a strong humanitarian response to both refugees and asylum seekers (Hamer 2016). Thus, in addition to the already existing refugees in the area, the number is set to go up. Nonetheless, women refugees worldwide face common challenges include domestic violence, child brides, prostitution, suicidal thoughts, and loss of hope. Mostly, refugee men who are unable to find work and cater for their families become stressed and often suffer from low self-esteem. Therefore, due to desperation and frustration, they resort to physical abuse their wives. Women also, due to dwindling fortunes and the need to provide for their families may turn to prostitution since it may be the only available option for them to get money for food (Myers 2016). Gender-based violence happens at all times in all countries but the violence against women increases significantly during and after natural disasters, armed conflicts, and crises Gebreiyosus (2014) explains that recently gender-based violence has become a serious global problem prompting it to be recognised by international human rights groups as a violation of human rights. The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women as any act of gender-based violence that causes or likely to cause bodily, sexual or psychological harm to women that occur both in private and the public. She adds that gender violence is more common in displaced settings where women are most vulnerable due to their situation. Most women flee their countries due to gender-related persecutions and violence but are not guaranteed protection from the same in the country in which they migrate (Europe Parliament 2006). Sometimes, the accommodation offered to asylum seekers may not be that secure, thus may expose women to incidences of sexual violence.To make matters, the existing and developing policy frameworks on migration at European Union (EU) and national levels may increase the vulnerability (Freedman and Jamal, 2008, p. 10). Freedman and Jamal (2008, p 10) explain that on reaching Euromed region, refugee and migrant women become exposed to different types of assaults which often occur in their families, communities, workplaces or within the larger social structure. World Health Organization defines violence “as the willful use of physical force or power against oneself, another individual, or against a community, whose result is injury, death, sexual or psychological harm, or deprivation of freedom.” Female sex workers usually are exposed violence due to their working conditions that are synonymous with alcohol and drug abuse as well as the stigma associated with the prostitution. Most of them serve as waiters or prostitutes in bars where they are most likely to be physically or emotional abused. Sexual assaults are often serious are they violate individual freedom, traumatize the victim and often results in unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortions and even death in extreme cases. Women who are brutalised can have traumas, which have various effects on the mind, body, and spirit. The traumas usually become worse especially when the victim fails to get professional help. Besides, the response to trauma often vary from person to person but depend on the frequency of the brutal accidents, the extent of severity and the effects on physical health. Furthermore, domestic violence can affect a person’s mental stability and cause her to have increased anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and depression symptoms (Simpsons and Simpsons, 2002, p 10). Survivors who are physically injured may have bruises that always remind them of their dire situations or the sad phase of their life where they were assaulted. Most times, women with such bruises and scars are forced to lie that they slipped or got involved in an accident due to shame or fear that when they tell the truth, they will attract more beatings from their husbands. The most common physical evidence of domestic violence include a black eye, sprained or broken wrists, red or purple marks on the neck and bruises. The Australian Human Rights Commission notes that violence against women as one of the most prevalent human rights abuses in Australia. According to the commission, at least one out of three women in the country experience violence in her lifetime and one in five will experience sexual violence (Australian Human Rights Commission 2016). It notes that gender-based violence occurs in different levels namely family, the community, the state, in institutional settings and a transnational level. Some policies directly contribute to violence against refugees by creating conditions where refugees are detained and face harassment from the police as well as institutions. Some policies may indirectly encourage the vice by setting conditions within which refugees become increasingly exposed to domestic violence, violence in the workplace and racist violence. Freedman and Jamal (2008, p 11) note that some policies on family reunification help reinforce women’s reliance on a male partner which makes it hard for them to escape domestic violence. It is important that the Australian government reacts swiftly and ensure victims of violence get access to justice and reparation. In most cases, refugee women who are abused sexually or physically rarely seek legal address or help due to a lack of protection provided by relevant national authorities (Freedman and Jamal, 2008, p. 10). Besides, most of the victims choose to remain silent as they lack legal residence status and may be deported when they seek legal help. All these elements show that indeed there is a high likelihood that refugee women may be exposed to varied forms of violence, but there is limited protection offered to them. Notably, gender-based violence is a leading cause of physical injury and mental health cases among women worldwide. According to World Health Organization, at least 29% to 62% of women to have been subjected to physical or sexual assault by their partners. Reid (2003, P 18) notes that the effects of violence against women include physical injuries and even disability. Besides, the victims may be subjected to psychological effects such as guilt, fear, lack of self-esteem and shame. Several causes have been linked to violence against women. A study conducted in India on domestic violence against women revealed that an alcoholic spouse as the primary reason for violence (Kaur and Garg, 2009). The study also showed that husband’s relatives were also responsible for instigating wife beating. Social learning models may also shape men to be violent against women. Most times, such people acquire their violent behaviours that they were exposed to in childhood. To them, they use violence to cope with stress or see it as a method of conflict resolution. Children who have witnessed or experienced an abuse when they are often associated with increased cases of violence when they become adults. Gender inequality in both public and private areas of life enhances women exposure to abuse, violent relationship, and exploitation. The existence of economic, educational, and employment disparities between husbands and wives are the primary cause of violence. For example, women who depend on their husbands financially find it hard to walk away from an abusive relationship. Reid (2003, p 17) acknowledges that gender-based violence is related to their lack of authority and say as well as societal rules that determine gender roles, which perpetuate abuse. According to Freedman and Jamal (2008, p 17), factors that increase the vulnerability of refugee women include legal status, economic dependency, sectored labour market, changing gender roles and relationships, and non-recognition of gender-related persecution. Others are growth in trafficking and racism and phobia, and failure of state institutions to solve the problem. In sector labour markets, most of the refugee women find themselves in precarious working conditions or positions like caregiving that offers them no protection in cases of violence or abuse. Likewise, the process of migration is characterised by changing gender roles and relationships for women. Some men may refuse to accept their wives new status or position thus resort to violence. Some refugee women may be victims of human trafficking, which is often characterised by severe forms of violence against the victims. To protect refugee women against violence, host countries need to consider some solutions and implement them immediately. They need to take to provide enough therapeutic, judicial and social assistance to the victims, implement social rehabilitation plans for them and provide precautionary information to women with respect to their rights in their new homes. The host countries should take account of the circumstance of victims of both physical and psychological violence and provide protection to them. Host countries should also simplify the formalities for granting a dwelling place for sex trade victims as well as provide special residence permit in exceptional cases to enable refugees without legal status to escape from violence. Mostly, individuals who commit rape and other forms of violence enjoy near total impunity. Most of the victims are usually not able to identify their attackers. The attackers also use intimidation techniques to prevent victims from testifying. In Australia, it is difficult for certain groups of disadvantaged women to pursue legal solutions to acts of victimisation or situations of conflict. Some of these challenges are attributed to gender, cultural and racist bias in law and legal processes. Putt and Higgins (2016, p 7) note that one of the main reasons why rape victims fail to get justice in Australian court relates to the issue of consent and the manner the victims are dealt with in court. He says that victims of sexual assault are often regarded as a special category of complainants who have to undergo grueling cross-examinations and skeptical reactions because the allegations have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt. Measures to address gender-based violence against refugees have been made before. In 1995, for example, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) published Sexual Violence against Refugees: Guidelines on Prevention and Response (Miller 2010). Moreover, UN has put more emphasis recently to come up with issues that face refugee women such as gender-based violence and has given women more roles in peacemaking processes. Similarly, many NGO, activists, and government agencies are doing an excellent job in raising awareness of the challenges that refugee women face. However, more needs to be done to ensure that perpetrators face the law, and to eradicate the culture that suppresses women. The Australian Human Rights Commission has come to a blueprint to reduce the incidences of assaults against women and making sure that the victims have access to adequate support. Firstly, the design outlines that both political frameworks and adequate Commonwealth funding should be in place to help coordinated and strategic implementation of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women across Jurisdictions and Sectors (Australian Human Rights Commission 2016). Secondly, a proper independent body be formed to monitor and implement the development of a nationwide research and education program and advocate best practices. Thirdly, adequate funding should be provided for services that cater for victims of domestic violence. Lastly, independent advocacy groups that add to the development and the assessment of the national plan should be provided with adequate resources. Vu et al. (2014) explain that deterrence and response to sexual assaults in refugee camps should focus on three broad areas of therapeutic and reproductive health, protection, and psychosocial help. They add that donor, and support organisations ought to make evidence-informed judgments based on the level of need and intervention costs. Moreover, both the government and humanitarian organisations should work hand-in-hand to help contain the issue as well as assist the victims of gender-based violence. 1.1 Key Ethical Issues and how they will be addressed Researchers adhere to ethical norms due to many reasons. Firstly, ethics helps promote the aims of research such as knowledge, authenticity, and avoidance of error by preventing researchers from falsifying or misrepresenting research data (Resnik 2015). Secondly, ethical standards help promote values that are necessary for collaborative work such as confidence, mutual respect, impartiality and answerability. Thirdly, they contribute to ensuring that researchers are held accountable for any research misconduct. Some of the key ethical issues relevant to the study are voluntary participation, informed consent, the risk of harm, and anonymity. The researcher will ensure that the individuals recruited for the survey are not coerced into participating. Therefore, the researcher will first seek for informed consent from the target group where they will be notified in advance of the procedures and risks involved in the research. The study will only include those individuals who give their consent to participate. Similarly, the researcher will ensure that the participants are not protected from any situation that may cause physical and psychological harm. To accomplish this, the participants will be guaranteed confidentiality by protecting the information gathered from the survey. Also, the members will be guaranteed anonymity as they will not be required to provide their personal details. Lastly, the researcher will submit the research proposal to the university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) who will determine if further measures need to be considered to ensure the safety and rights of participants. 1.2 Population(S) to be Studied, and Sampling Method The scope of the survey is geographically limited to Ballarat region. The study will examine the different types of violence that female refugees in the area face but only those that occur in Ballarat region. Notably, female refugees are often exposed to gender-based violence before their flight, while fleeing, at their refugee camps, during reparation and integration. A convenience sampling method will be used to choose participants for the study for the study which will be drawn from both genders. Convenience sampling is convenient, as it allows the researcher to select participants that are fit for the study. One of the advantages of convenience sampling is that it is cheap and the simplest form of sampling (Ellison et al., 2008, p. 67). However, to minimise challenges associated with the method, the researcher will provide a clear account on how the sample was obtained and who the participants are. 1.3 Proposed Methods A descriptive qualitative research design will be used to explain and reach a thorough understanding of the prevalence, cause and consequences of gender based violence against female refugees in Ballarat. The research will use a combination of in-depth interviews and focus groups to collect information among the participants. The main advantage with focus groups is that they allow participants to brainstorm and dig deeper into an issue. It also allows researchers to have access to unfiltered feedback from the participants without distractions. On the other hand, in-depth interviews are compelling when the researcher wants to identify accurate perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes. It also allows participants to give out sensitive information that they may not feel comfortable sharing in the public. The interviews will also be audio recorded, transcribed and data analysed using thematic content analysis. A thematic content analysis is appropriate for analysing data as it provides a means for organising and summarising the findings from a broad body of research (Pope, Mays and Popay, 2007, p 97). The research questions objectives will be to: 1. Determine the prevalence of gender-based violence in women and its various forms in Ballarat 2. Examine the causes and risk factors for gender violence among refugee women in Ballarat. 3. Analyse the impact of gender violence among the refugee women in Ballarat The research questions will be as follows: 1. What is the prevalence of gender-based violence among women refugee in Ballarat? 2. What are the causes and risk factors for gender-based violence among refugee women in Ballarat? 3. What are the consequences of gender-based violence against women refugees in Ballarat? 1.4 Implications The findings of the study will be useful in many ways: 1. It will help provide insight on gender violence that female refugees face, the enforcement of human rights in different refugee camps in Ballarat. 2. The findings could be used for designing appropriate mechanisms and monitoring systems to provide solutions to gender-based violence as well as provide support for the protection of human rights of refugees in the country. 3. The findings could be used by different interested bodies such as UNHCR, NGOs and the Ballarat local government among others to carry out a more in-depth study on the subject matter. 4. The study will help broaden understanding and add to the existing literature on gender-based violence against female refugees. Moreover, it may encourage other researchers to conduct similar research in other areas of Australia and the world. Currently, limited data is available gender-based violence, its currency, and impact on victims. One of the reasons tied to this is widespread underreporting as well as failing to analyze the problem and gaps in recorded data on particular groups. Operational Definition of Related Terms Gender-based violence: is any harm perpetrated against a woman will, which negatively affects her physical, psychologically, health, development, and identity. Sexual abuse: is any form of unwanted sexual activity or contact with women notwithstanding the relationship of the perpetrator to the victim in any context. It includes but not limited to rape, attempted rape, inappropriate touching, gang rape, forced prostitution, and sexual harassment (Girshick, 2002, p 105) Physical violence: includes but not confined to killing, beating, burning, punching with or without weapons, often used with other forms of gender-based violence. Reference List Australian Human Rights Commission. 2016. Violence against women. [online] Available at: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sex-discrimination/projects/violence-against-women [Accessed 31 Oct. 2016]. Ellison, S., Farrant, T., Barwick, V. and Farrant, T. 2008. 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